Window for panels



July 21, 1953 A. J. KOLL.

WINDOW FOR PANELS Filed Sept. 15, 1949 gvwwwtw FIG ANDREW J KOLL n H n u a u H 9 m 8 H u a m m 51.

PIC-3.6

Patented July 21, 1953 2,645,827 WINDOW FoRrANELs" Andrew J Koll, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Baltimore, Md.,- a

corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1949, Serial N6. 115,544

This invention relates to a novel arrangement of a window for a panel that is both ornamental 6 Claims. (01. 20--56.4)

it is to be understoodthat the panel fi could be in appearance and inexpensive tomanufacture.

There are many applicationsrequiring the use of a window in a panel, 'a'typical'example being recording instruments; wherein low-cost of manufacture must be accompanied by desirable appearance, ruggedness of assembly, and ease of re-' placement. Heretofore, numerous different arrangements havebeen proposed butnone have entirely satisfied the requirements set forth above. The invention set forth herein discloses an arrangement wherein a transparent member cooperates with a frame toprovide a window for a panel, the transparent member'and frame being assembled in inter-locking relationship whereby both are securely locked to thepanel; resulting in an ornamental, rugged, and low-cost assembly.

It is an object of the inventionto providea new and novel arrangement of a window for a panel that is ornamental in appearance; easy to 'assemble and dis-assemble, devoid of superfluous or extra parts and is adapted forlow-cost manu-" facture.

Other objects and advantages will readily be seen upon an inspection iof'the drawings annexed hereto when taken in conjunction with the de tailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front or outer view of a panel embodying the novel window arrangement, and showing the outer appearance of the assembled window.

' Fig. 2 is a rear or inner view of the arrangement shown in Fig.1 and shows th inner appearance of the assembled window.

Fig. 3 is a view in section, taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. v v

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the window frame. I

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the panel showing one form of the arrangement for receiving the tongue of the frame shown in F1gures 4 and 6.

Figure 6 is a partial view in elevation of the frame shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the panel showing an alternative arrangement to that shown in Figure 5 for receivingthe tongue of the frame shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Now referring to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a panel 6 having therein a substantially oblong opening '1. The panel 6 could be a part of the casing or housing of a recording instrument, and the opening Lin such an instance, would be provided to permit observation or-inspection of the data recordedon a chart or paper roll contained within such an instrument. Ordinarily, it is desirable to provide -awindow for theopening lwhen the panel 6 is a part of the casing or housing of a recording instrument. Of course,

part of'the casing or housing of any particular device or article of manufacturewherein itis desirable to have an openingprovided with a window for inspection or observation of the interior of the particular article of manufacture.

In order to provide a window for the opening 1, the panel 6 is provided with a plurality of notches 8 at spaced points about the periphery of the opening '1, and'forminga part of the opening 1. Cooperating with the notches 8 is a frame. Sl

having a plurality of tongues ll projecting through the notches 8, there being one tongue for each notch.

'Theframe 9 is in the form of a channe lmem her having a substantially U-shaped cross-sew tional configuration, whereby a pair of legs 12 and [3 ar provided, each of the legs having substantially fiat edges [4 and 15, respectively. When the frame 9 is placed upon the anel 6 with the tongues ll notches 8, the edge l4 engages the outer face of the panel 6. The curved upper portion of the frame 9 overlies the outer face of the panel 6 and the leg [3 serves to cover the peripheral edge 16 of the opening I. p

Cooperating with the frame 9 is a transparent member I! which is so dimensioned as torest within the confines of th tongues ll projecting through the notches 8; that is, the opening defined by notches 8 surround the periphery of member [land the member ll, in turnoverlies the opening I, surrounding same about its periphery. The transparent member [1 may be of glass or any suitabl transparent material such as the common commercially available transparent plastics. The outer face of the transparei ent member I! surrounding the opening (engages the inner face of the panel 6 surroundingthe opening 1. Thus, we see that the transparent member I! is so dimensioned as to provide a windowior transparent cover forthe opening I- in th panel B.

With the transparent member in place, resting within the confines of the tongues I l the assembly of the window is completed by means of the simple operation of bending the tongues over the edge I8 of the transparent member ll whereby the ends of the tongues II will engage the edges I8 and the inner face of the member ll. Thus,

it is seen that the frame 9 and the transparent.

member 17 are assembled in inter-locking relationship which serves to [lock the two parts se- The combination of the? edge M of the fram 9 resting on the outer face i of the panel 6, together with the tongue H curely to the panel fi.

engaging the edge l8 and inner face of the transparent member [1, provides a clamping. action. resulting in the frame 9 and transparent member; I! being assembled rigidly together and to the.

panel 6; v

projecting through the It is not necessary that the transparent member be heldto close dimensional tolerances in as much as any normal variations from unit to unit.

in the manufacturing operations can be compensated for by slight variations in the degreethe transparent member I! is slightly under-size,

the tongues II can be so bent as to take up the dimensional deficiency of the transparent member I1. If the transparent member I! 'is' slightly over-size, the tongues II can still be bent around the member ll sofas to secure it in place. The arrangement described above is advantageous if the transparent member I7 is made of glass, for it is well-known that extreme accuracy of dimensions is difiicult to achieve, and therefore costly, in the case of glass.

Obviously the novel arrangement described above is ideally adapted for low-cost manufacturing operations in that the opening 1 can be punched or stamped out of the panel 6, the frame 9 can be formed by means of simple sheet-metal forming operations and the transparent member H can be manufactured with rather loose dimensional tolerances. All of these factors contribute to low-cost of manufacture and, of course, the assembly of the various components to form a complete window utilizes substantially a minimum number of assembly operations. Furthermore, the assembled unit is bothv decorative in appearance and of a rugged construction. The transparent member I] is tightly and rigidly locked to the panel ,6, there being no possibility of any play or movement by the transparent member I! after assembly, by virtue of the clamping action of tongues ll. As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the frame 9 produces .a decorative appearance in that the edges I6 of the opening I are substantially covered by the leg 13 of the frame 9.

Whereas the invention in the embodiment described above utilizes a plurality of notches 8 surrounding the opening I, the same effects could be achieved if the notches B were replaced by apertures l9 appropriately positioned and spaced around the opening I. With either construction, whether it be a notch or an aperture, the openings provided for receiving the tongues ll substantially underlie the-frame .9 so .as to enhance the ornamental and decorative appearance of the assembled window.

In view of the above, it is quite apparent that a novel window has been provided for a panel that is decorative and ornamental in appearance, easy to assemble and dis-assemble, devoid of superfluous or extra parts, ideally adapted for low-cost manufacture, and constituting a tightly and rigidly secured assembly.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a panel having a first opening: a transparent member engaging the inner face of said panel surrounding said first opening; a retaining frame overlying the outer face of said panel surrounding said first opening and having at least an edge thereof engaging the outer face of said panel; and a plurality of second openings in said panel substantially underlying said frame and surrounding said transparent member, said frame having a plurality of tongues projecting through said second openings and bent inwardly to engage the edge and inner face of said transparent member.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said second openings comprise a plurality of notches in said panel located at spaced points around the periphery of said first opening and forming a part of said first opening.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said second openings comprise a plurality of apertures in said panel surrounding said first opening.

.4. In combination with a panel having a first opening; a transparent member engaging the inner face .of said panel surrounding said first opening; a retaining frame surrounding said first openingcyerlying the outer face of said panel and overlying the outer .face of said transparent member; said frame having at least an edge thereof engaging the outer face of said panel; and a plurality of second openings in said panel substantially underlying said frame and surrounding said transparent member; said frame having a plurality of tongues projecting through said second openings and bent inwardly to engage the edge and inner face of said transparent member.

5. In combination with a panel having a first opening; a transparent member engaging the inner face of said panel surrounding said first opening; a retaining frame overlying the outer face of said panel surrounding said first opening; said frame comprising a channel-shaped member having the edge of one leg engaging the outer face of the said panel; and a plurality of second openings in said panel surrounding said transparent member and located substantially in register with the edge of said one leg of said frame, said one leg .of said frame having a plurality of tongues projecting through said second openings and bent inwardly to engage .the edge and inner face of said transparent member.

.6. In combination with a panel having a first opening: a transparent member engaging the inner face of said panel surrounding said first opening; a retaining frame overlying the outer surface of said panel and outer face of said transparent member and surrounding said first opening; said frame comprising a channel-shaped member having the edge of one leg in juxtaposition with the outer face of said transparent member and the edge of the other leg engaging the outer face of said panel; and a plurality of second openings in said panel surrounding said transparent member and located substantially in register with the edge of said other leg of said frame; said edge of said other leg of said frame having a plurality of tongues projecting through said second openings and bent inwardly to engage the edge and inner face of said transparent member.

ANDREW J. KOLL References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 572,199 Everest Dec. 1, 1896 602,361 Richards Apr. 12, 1898 729,148 Fabry May 26, 1903 799,291 Babst Sept. 12, 1905 1,511,989 Hammond Oct. 14, 1924 1,637,589 Roberts Aug. 2, 1927 1,756,302 Pendery Apr. 29, 1930 1,815,940 Zoerner July 28, 1931 2,076,292 Carlson Apr. 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,765 Denmark July 21, 1927 

